Teachers of young children are up against an immovable wall of time, or so it seems!  There just isn't enough time to each day to teach, to review, to assess the children's progress -- and to prepare for it all.

          Because of the limited time, I try to teach several subjects whenever I can.  As I conduct morning group, I incorporate math, reading and "sharing the pen" into the lessons.  Using an integrated, center-based classroom, I blend the essential curriculum skills and concepts into each center so that wherever a child works she is learning to read and to do math while working with science, fine arts, and writing activities.

          This is where the use of music enters the picture.

          There has not been much research about how songs, chants, and lullabies influence learning.  But there are, however, valid conclusions and extensions we can make from what we do know about music and song.  Songs carry information.  History invites us, for instance, to remember that for thousands of years, people have sung for enjoyment and to ease the burdens of work.  Songs have conveyed important information about work, family, and society.  This has been true for all cultures around the world. 

          Songs, poems, chants, and rhymes, for example, made it possible for workmen in the Middle Ages to organize and build great cathedrals.  They could not have learned through reading and writing, since few men mastered either skill.  Recent research on the effects of music on the brain reveals that the brain loves music and that information traveling on musical notes is learned more quickly, and better retained for speedy, accurate retrieval.  The research certainly corroborates my 28 years of teaching.  There are many reasons for children to sing! 

          When I choose songs well, I can teach reading, writing, math, science, fine arts, social studies, language, and motor skills.  The results are striking, especially as classrooms contain children with different learning styles, children with special needs, and those who have had problems in more traditionally structured settings. 

          Choosing the right song matters because of the information each song carries.  While some are fun and useful to sing, others are not well-suited for teaching young children.   Let's look at one, Rock A Bye Baby: 

Rock a bye baby in the treetop

When the wind blows the cradle will rock

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

          What does it teach?  Here is one interpretation:

          "Babies may be put in cradles and hanged in tree branches.  This frees up mother's hands for other work.  Wind may blow the baby around and soothe her, but she will fall to the ground when the tree branch breaks."

          What information does it carry?  We learn a little about babysitting during Colonial times.  Maybe this song describes everyday life back then, but this is not generally what we teach in early childhood programs.  Perhaps "Rock a Bye Baby" is not quite the song we want.  Be sure that the songs you choose will impart information to help your children and grow.

          Even "just for fun" songs can be educational!  My children love Shel Silverstein's poem "I'm Being Swallowed by a Boa Constrictor."  Peter, Paul, and Mary sing it on Peter, Paul, and Mommy.  Although we sing it just for fun, this song helps children learn about body parts and their own emerging sense of humor.  It also adds two new words to their vocabulary: boa constrictor.

What are we looking for in songs that teach? 

Here are six elements:

They are relevant, meaningful, and interesting to the children. 

          Use songs that have piqued your students' interest.  How will you know them?  Children will sing them on the playground and hum them when they work at tasks.  They ask for them to be played.  These songs can turn children's interest into teaching opportunities.  You can teach through song rather than less pleasurable forms of "drill."           

They tell a simple story. 

          Use songs that have a beginning, middle, and an end so that children develop an understanding of "storyness." 

They have a simple, memorable melody. 

          There is something special about these kinds of songs.  They stay in your head and in the children's heads.  Use these songs to build skills.  

          

They build a base for future learning. 

          Often we are asked to teach information that the children are not ready to learn or to teach skills that are beyond their levels of ability.  When this happens, select a song that has some of the information in it that you need to teach.  The children will learn it and be able to recall it months later when it will mean something to them.  

They review information and practice skills.

          Look at the skills and concepts you taught during the year.  To review, teach a song that contains some of the information you have taught.  Let the singing of the song help re-teach and review for the children what they have learned.  Let's assume, for example, that you are teaching the color words like red, green, and yellow.  Use the song Crayons (in this book) with an interactive chart; do the activities described.  All of the activities will give the children many opportunities to practice the color words.

They are age appropriate. 

          Sing wisely!

          To sum up, using songs to teach can save teachers' time.  Songs help young children learn information quickly and accurately.  Through songs, children store and retrieve information more quickly and they can access this information over longer periods of time.

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About Sharon MacDonald

          Sharon MacDonald has been training teachers for over 19 years on a variety of early childhood topics.  Her training is based on her unique perspective from 28 years as an early-childhood teacher.  Her practical ideas, down-to-earth approaches and her enthusiastic presentation style will energize and delight you.  You will be able to implement many of her creative ideas in your classroom right away.          
          Two of Sharon's books, Squish, Sort, Paint, and Build and Everyday Discoveries have received coveted "highly recommended" reviews from the Parent Council, Ltd.  Two others, Idea Bags and Block Play have received Directors' Choice Awards from Early Childhood News.  More of Sharon's Professional Resources are also available.          
          Sharon is a frequent keynote and featured speaker at national and state early-childhood conferences. To have Sharon conduct a professional workshop at your school, please visit Sharon MacDonald's Website.